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Fecal Short‐Chain Fatty Acids Predict Digestive Disorders in Premature Infants
Author(s) -
Szylit O.,
Maurage C.,
Gasqui P.,
Popot F.,
Favre A.,
Gold F.,
Borderon J.C.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of parenteral and enteral nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.935
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1941-2444
pISSN - 0148-6071
DOI - 10.1177/0148607198022003136
Subject(s) - feces , gastroenterology , medicine , parenteral nutrition , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Background: Excretion of fecal short‐chain volatile fatty acids (SCFAs) may indicate changes in colonic or colonocyte metabolism. The aim of this study was to detect the existence of an average fecal SCFA profile and to define which changes were associated with clinical events that occurred during the survey period. Methods: SCFA profiles of 185 stool samples collected from 46 fed preterm neonates (mean birth weight, 1920 g; mean gestational age, 32.8 weeks) were evaluated and their association with digestive disorders or therapy was explored. Results: Total SCFA concentration increased from 0 to 80 μmol/g feces wet weight over the first 20 days of life. A basic SCFA profile revealed the existence of a highly sensitive period between the second and the third week of life. In the absence of any digestive problem (n = 15), the butyric acid (C 4 ) ratio increased from 7% to 24%. Phototherapy (n = 13) enhanced the SCFA concentration but decreased the ratios of C 4 and minor acids. Digestive disorders reported included abdominal distention (n = 6) or bleeding (n = 8). Only in the case of bleeding was the SCFA profile changed by an enhancement of C 4 by >50%. Antibiotic therapy (n = 3) suppressed SCFA production. Conclusions: This study supports a hypothesis that changes in the SCFA profile could offer a noninvasive method to anticipate functional modifications of the gastrointestinal tract before the first clinical signs of pathologic events, including necrotizing enterocolitis. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 22 :136–141, 1998)